Card index



M. STEINBERG Jufiy 17, 1934 CARD I N DEX Filed Feb.- 6. 1933 INVENTOR. zs SZ'eznber-y ATTORNEY.

Patented July 17, 1934 UN? TED STA TIES PATENT -O:: FF IC E 2 Claims.

This invention relates to card index and filing cabinet constructions, and more particularly to an improved small filing case especially designed for household use, and to the provision of cooperating index and filing cards of improved construction.

An important object is the provision of such a small filing cabinet which is virtually moisture and dust proof, in which the index cards are held against accidental removal from the cabinet but freely slidable back and forth therein, and in which the index cards and also any other cards filed therebetween are held erect without the use of a special back support or springs, the elimination of which enables use of the entire space withinthe box.

Another important object of this invention is improvement of the construction shown in Bentley Patent Number 1,542,816, issued June 23, 1925, in such manner that perforation of any or" the walls of a case is rendered unnecessary and the possibility of dust and other foreign matter entering the same thereby eliminated, and to provide better and firmer support and secural of the cards.

Another object is the provision of such a filing case having metal end plates with integral grooves therein for guiding the index cards, which cabinet is so formed that part of the front wall may be opened when the case is in use, while certain grooves are formed with cooperating portions adapted to prevent the cards from falling forward to an undesirable position in which they project beyond the open front of the case.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention, and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a filing case embodying the invention, showing the case closed;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the case open and a number of index and filing cards therein;

Figure S is a front elevation of the case with the front wall removed and the side and bottom walls shown in section, the top being partly broken away;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a case of somewhat modified construction shown open and empty; and

Figure 5 is a" perspective View of an end plate for a case of another somewhat modified construction.

Referring now to the drawing,reference chara'oters 1'0, 11, 12', lB'and 1'4 designate the several portions'ofi a wrapped covering member which serves to enclose all of the box but its ends. This may, as best "shown in Figure 3, comprise an inner sheet of relatively heavy cardboard or fiber 15 covered on both sides by suitable limp material such as real or artificial leather, oilcloth, or other fabric. The limpcovering is designated l6, and may along the upper edge 1'? which divides cover sections 1314 and along the edge 18 dividing the cover section '13 from the back section 12, act as a straphi'n'ge enabling opening the top sections 13-14 of the box by swinging them back in the manner shown. in Figure 2'. The lower portion 10 of the front of the box is rigidly attached thereto, as are also the bottom I1. andback 12. The securing may be effected by riveting the front and back 'sections 10 and'12' asat-ZZ to inbent flanges 19 carried by the end plates 20, 21. Opening cover'sections 13,. 14 as shown in Figure 2-, exposes to view at leasthalf the reading area of the front card within the box, as well as enabling easy manipulation. of the cards.

The end plates"20 2 l of the box are preferably formed of stamped sheet-metal. Their up per front portions are reduced in width as at 23 in Figure 2 to provide a gap between the front edges of the end plates and the lower front wall portion 10. Into the gap so formed the front cover panel 14 snugly fits and may be tucked when the case is closed, in the manner shown in Figure 1.

The box is shown containing index cards 24 and 'filing cards 25. In end plates 20, 21 are pressed a plurality of grooves as 262'7 forming inwardly projecting guides on the interior faces of the end plates. The index cards 24 are cut out or notched, as at 30, to loosely interfit with the guides so formed, while the cards themselves extend the full width of the box, as best shown in Figure 3. The filing cards 25, however, are no wider than the distance between the guide channels. The index cards are thus retained in the box and held substantially erect by the guide channels, while the filing cards are freely insertable and removable from between the index cards. Preferably a plurality of guide channels are used upon each side of the cards, one being disposed near the bottom and the other near the CPI top to provide the maximum holding effect against excessive tilting of the cards.

In the end plates 20-21 may also be stamped additional inwardly projecting channel portions 31 extending across the front extremities of the upper guide channels 26 substantially as shown in Figure 2. These serve as stops to prevent the cards from falling too far forward, as also shown in Figure 2, and may be inclined at a suitable angle so that the cards rest thereagainst along a maximum length to form a guide for a desirable tilt of the cards.

As shown in Figure 4, in which equivalent portions of the case have been given like reference numerals to those used in connection with the first described embodiment, with the addition of prime exponents; one or more tangs 31 may be formed integrally upon and project inwardly from the front edges of the end plates to serve as front stops for the cards in analogous fashion to the function of the inclined channel stops 31. This construction enables provision of larger and more positive stops.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment, in which equivalent portions have been given like reference numerals to those used in connection with the first form, with the addition of exponents (2). The flaring stop 32 is formed in the flat surface of each end plate adjacent its front edge by punching the same inwardly without perforating it, in the manner clearly shown in Figure 5.

These methods of forming the guiding channels and stops for maintaining the cards in desired positions, while possessing the simplicity and inexpensive characteristics of sheet-metal construction, do not form openings in the box through which foreign matter might find its way, and incorporate all the advantages which could be obtained by more expensive built-up construction. It will be understood that despite the inexpensive nature of the essential portions of the box, it may be made very attractive in appearance by merely using a suitably decorated fabric or oilcloth, or a leather covering upon the body section, while the end plates may be enameled, plated, or otherwise finished in harmonious or decorative fashion. The disclosed method of retaining the index cards possesses the further important advantage of not only holding the index cards against accidental removal or falling from the box, but the interfitted filing cards as well, although not positively locked in place, are by their frictional engagement with the index cards prevented from falling out, even when the case is inverted. Such action of the index cards in retaining the filing cards seems to be strengthened by the positioning of the lower retaining channels near the bottom of the box. These channels also, it will be observed, serve as stiffening ribs which materially strengthen the end plates of the box. The other features of construction of the case also assure relatively great strength while no matter in what position it rests on a table or other supporting surface, the parts are so arranged that the case remains closed tightly when so arranged, and cannot accidentally fly open even when dropped, thrown or tipped.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A card index comprising a case having a rear wall, sheet-metal side walls, and a front wall of lesser height than the other walls, card guides comprising integral ridges formed in but not through the side Walls, a plurality of cards within the case of greater height than the front wall and having side portions engaging beneath said ridges, and stops for limiting forward tilting' of the cards, comprising additional integral inwardly projecting ridges pressed in the side walls and angularly extending across the ends of the first-mentioned guide ridges.

2. A card index comprising a case having sheet-metal side walls and a lower front wall, card guides carried by each side wall and comprising integral ridges formed therein, cards within the case and having portions lnterfitting with such ridges to prevent their undesired removal while permitting their sliding movement, and stops to limit forward tilting of the cards beyond the front wall, comprising inwardly projecting portions carried by the side walls.

MORRIS STEINBERG. 

